Package binder



May 7, 1935. H. c. PORTER 2,000,1610

' PACKAGE BINDER Filed July l1, 1952 W MM Patented May 7, 1935 M vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE BINDER Howard C. Porter, La Grange Park, Ill., assignor to Signode Steel Strapping Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 11, 1932, serial No. 621,844

1o claims. (c1. 24-20) My invention relates to package-binders, surface friction to oppose the rupture of the particularly such as are used for binding indijoint. f

vidual packages or for binding groups of pack- Another object is to provide a composite coatages into assembled units for handling and shiping for a binder, the normal and initially ex- 5 ment. posed surface having a low'coecient of friction 5 Usually such binders are looped and tightly whereas the' contiguous surfaces which become tensioned around the package or group of packexposed in the folded or crimped joint have a ages and then overlapping portions are jointed high coefficient of friction. or sealed together to make the encircling loop Another Objectis to vprovide a double coating permanent. Ordinarily the tension is applied for a metallic binder, the outer layer having a 10 to a portion or reach of an encircling binder at low coeicient of friction and the inner layer a one side of the package or group of packages and high coefficientY of friction. consequently, in order effectively to distribute Another object is to provide an attractive, the locally applied tension throughout the enweatherproof and durable finish for metallic circling binder, it is very desirable that the fricpackage binder,-a finish which in addition to 15 tion between the binder and the package or these properties, will facilitate its proper appligroup of packages, particularly at the corners, cation to packages. be as low as possible. Otherwise the sections or Another object is to provide a process for reaches of binder other than that to which the providing a metallic binder with dual friction tension is initially applied may be relatively surfaces. 20-

free from tension and loose so that when the Other objects and advantages will hereinafter package or group of packages is subsequently appear. subjected to shocks and jars the tension, which In the drawing theretofore has been to a considerable extent Fig.1 is a perspective of a portion of binder,

localized, becomes distributed. And then, since in the form Yof a fiat strap, with its several sur- 25 some portions were initially relatively loose, the face forming coatings cut back and partly reentire binder may be insufficiently tight. Furthmoved,the constituent parts being very much ermore itis desirable that under some conditions enlarged and exaggerated in order to illustrate the friction between superposed contacting porgenerally their relationship,

tions of the binder be as low as possible, par- Fig. 2 is a top plan of a typical joint, of the 3.0 ticularly when the stretching or tensioning tools folded Vor crimped type, for uniting contiguous employed perform their Work by sliding portions overlapping portions of binder, of the binder upon and past one another such, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of suchva joint, for example, as the tools set forth in Flora Fig.- 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Patent No. 1,149,569 or, in Gunther Patent No. Fig. 3, 35,

1,453,564. On the other hand in order to pro- Fig. 5 is a highly magnified cross section duce a strong and reliable union or joint between through a small portion of binder showing the the overlapping binder portionsparticularly normal relationship between the core and the folded or crimped joints of the type set forth in high and low friction surfaces,

Flora Patent No. 1,252,680 or Leslie Patent No. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the relation- 40 1,445,330-it is very desirable that the friction ship between the constituent parts of contiguous between contiguous overlapping strap portions contacting binder portions when subjected to which are tightly folded or crimped together be relatively slight pressure and bending such as as high as possible in order to oppose the tendobtains during tensioning operations, and

ency of the overlapped and folded portions to Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the relation- 45 separate longitudinally under the tension to ship between the parts when the contiguous conwhich the binder may be subjected. tacting portions are subjected to the relatively One of the objects of my invention is to prosevere pressure and crimping which obtain upon vide a binder wherein normally the coefficient the formation of the joint.

of surface friction is low so that it will readily In general my invention contemplates the pro- 50 slide over the surfaces and corners of packages vision of a metallic package binder such as a or groups of packages and over portions of like steel strap or wire having an inner and nor-` binders, but which when subjected to the bendmally unexposed surface characterized by a ing and pressure incident to the production of a relatively high coeicient of friction and having crimped joint, will exhibit a high coeicient of an outernormally exposed surface characterized 55 by a relatively low coefficient of friction, the surfaces being of such a character that the friction between the binder and packages and between superposed contacting portions of the binder is relatively low during the above mentioned sliding, stretching and tensioning operations, but the friction between contacting binder portions becomes relatively great or high when such binder portions are deformed to produce a union or folded joint of the general type disclosed in the previously mentioned Flora and Leslie patents.

The binder illustrated in the drawing `has a core l consisting of a flexible steel strap or ribbon. The primary or innerl normally unexf posed surface may take the form of a coating or layer 2 of hard, tough, weatherproof` varnish or enamel-like material which willtenaciously.,

adhere to the steel strap or core i.

I do not wish, however, to limit my'invention to any particular primary coating, it being essential only that the inner or normally unexposed surface ofthe strap or core be readily flexible and sufficiently elastic to enable it to bend with the core without flaking olf and without crushing, be harder than the outer or sec-l ondary relatively smooth surface and provide or maintain a microscopic roughness, such as is commonly known as an eggshell or satin nish, when subjected to joint formingpressure and deformation. f o

The outer or secondary surface is illustrated as a layer or coating 3, which preferably is relatively thin compared to the thickness of the inner or primary coating. This layer or,coat

ing may be composed of a semi-hard-wax like material having a surface which is dry and relatively very slippery. VIt should be stable under ordinary temperature conditions so that it will normally remain as a thin covering over the primary surface. But when superposed or overlapping portions of the binder are deformed to produce a folded or crimped joint of the type heretofore mentioned, the primary surface is exposed to permit intimate engagemenuwithin the joint, of the relatively rough high friction surfaces of parts of the overlapping binder portions.

I do not know the precise reason or reasons why the outer low friction surface offers low resistance to slipping or relative movement during the tensioning or stretching operation, and yet is so disposed during the bending and clamping operation of joint formation as to expose the surface having a high coeicient of friction. I have observed, however, that when the superposed portions are deformed to produce a folded joint or union, the character of the surfaces in the regions of greatest deformation undergoes a physical change and takes on a minutely iiaky or crystalline appearance.

It may be that the minute recesses or fissures interspersed among the microscopic flakes or crystals increase the capacity of the primary surface for the reception of the secondary coating or wax-like material so that as the binder is deformed and the fissures form, the secondary coating is ruptured and drawn down into the fissures with the resultthat the high friction surfaces become exposed and engage each other. On the other hand, it may be that thev microscopically rough primary surface sufciently supports the secondary coating Linder the pressures incident to tensioningto keepgitself coveredV with the wax-likev low friction material,

although, when subjected to pressures incident to joint formation, the secondary coating flows into the microscopic recesses of or is pierced by the microscopic projections of the rough prmary surface with the result that the projections of the primary surfaces of superposed binder portions become engaged producing high friction.

It is, of course, possible that the advantageous results obtained from my invention in actual practice may be due to a combination of the effects of deformation and pressure as above described; But whatever the cause may be, I have observed that while the undeformed binder is smooth, of a satiny or eggshell nish appearance and possesses a low coefficient of surface friction, the deformed binder, particularly along the lines of fold, exhibits the flaky or crystalline appearance and has a relatively high coefficient of surface' friction.

. Microscopic examination of contiguous contacting surfaces seems clearly to indicate that, under relatively slight pressure and bending such as obtains around package corners and in.

ordinary tensioning tools of the character hereinbefore mentioned, such surfaces are related as illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the outer secondary coating 3 of wax like low friction material covers and is supported by the minute projections and bridges the minute depressions inthe primary high friction surface 2. Thus under such conditions the friction between the contacting surfaces of binder is relatively low. But when the pressure and crimping action is concentrated and severe, as obtains in the folded joint, then the outer coating 3 is pierced by the projections of the high friction inner surface 2 as shown in Fig. 7 and the engagement of these projections results in high friction between the contacting binder surfaces.

The primary or inner high friction surface may be provided by a coating composed of various ingredients which will give the desired re,- sults. One specic compound may be made by thoroughly mixing '78 pounds of black baking varnish of 10 gallons oil length, 12 pounds of Vsesqui-oxide of iron pigment finely ground and 10 pounds of light naphtha. This mixture may be applied to the steel strap by spraying, dipping or wiping, as desired, and is then set or hardened by drying, baking for about one hour at approximately 400 Fahrenheit affording good results. The primary or inner surface thusy produced is microscopically rough with minute depressions and projections which, under a mi' i croscope of about one hundred power, appear to be rather uniformly distributed and of ap proximately equal area-the separation of projections being of the order of about .0G02v to .001 inch.

After the strap is thus covered with the primary coat the secondary or outer coating or surface 3 is applied. Various wax like substances, which are stable at ordinary temperatures, may be applied. A suitable substance may be provided by mixing 12 pounds of petroleum wax of Fahrenheit melting point, 50 pounds of carnauba wax, 38 pounds of beeswax and 50 gallons of a suitable thinner, such as turpentine. This mixture may be applied over the primary coat by dipping, spraying or wiping, as desired. After being thus applied it is allowed to dry and, preferably, polished in any suitable manner, such as by being rubbed with or passed between dryfelt pads. This secondary coat should be applied very thinly over the primary surface so as to form a smooth slippery surface over the satiny or eggshell flnish of the latter.

The binder thus treated has a relatively smooth slippery outer or normally exposed surface 3 which allows one portion to slide freely upon another portion, as in a stretching tool o-f the type mentioned in the Flora and Guenther patents supra, and to slide freely upon the surface and about the corners of a package or group of packages under such tension as is ordinarily applied for banding or binding purposes. However, when two contiguous overlapping portions of the binder are in a static condition folded and squeezed or crimped together tightly enough to form a joint such as set forth in the Flora and Leslie patents, supra, the minute proj ections or relatively rough surfaces of the primary coat 2 are exposed and engage each other with great surface fricton therebetween. 'Ihe coatings form a protective covering for the steel core, preventing it from rusting, and, because the outer coat 2 is exceedingly thin and sufficiently transparent to permit the prmary coat 2 to show through, the binder has an eggshell or satiny dark reddish brown and attractive appearance. Of course, if other colors are desired they may be obtained by, for example, substituting some other suitable solid pigment. Thus a velvety black may be obtained by the use of graphite.

Having thus described the nature and a speciflc illustrative embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

l. A package-binder adapted to be tensioned about packages and made into a permanently closed loop thereabout by a folded joint between overlapping portions, comprising a flexible metallic core having a surface of high coefficient of friction, and a coating of relatively low coefficient of friction which is normally over said surface but disposable to expose said surface of high coefficient of friction in the folded joint.

2. A package-binder adapted to be tensioned about packages and made into a permanently closed loop thereabout by a folded joint between overlapping portions, comprising a flexible metallic core, a primary coating of flexible hard material adhering to the core and having a surface of high coefficient of friction, and a secondary coating of low coefficient of friction normally covering the primary coating but exposing the same when the binder is folded into a joint.

3. A package-binder comprising a flexible metallic core, a primary coating of flexible hard enamel-like material adhering to the core and having a microscopically rough outer surface, and a thin wax like smooth secondary coating over the primary coating, the secondary coating being disposable to expose the rough primary coating when the binder is folded into a joint.

4. A package-binder comprising a flexible metallic core, a primary coating adhering to and covering the core, said primary coating being hard and flexible and with a microscopically rough eggshell finish surface, and a wax like secondary coating over the primary coating, the secondary coating being relatively thin and smooth and disposable when the binder is folded into a joint to expose the primary coating and thereby increase the friction coefficient of the binder. Y

5. A package-binder comprising a flexible metallic core, a primary coating adhering to and covering the core, said primary coating being hard and having a microscopically rough surface with substantially uniformly` distributed depressions and projections of about equal areas, and a wax like secondary coating over the primary coating, the secondary coating being relatively thin and smooth.

6. A package-binder comprising a flexible metallic core, a primary high friction surface coating adhering to and covering the core, said primary coating comprising a hard enamel-like substance including minute particles of a solid metalloid substance, and a wax like secondary coating over the primary coating, the secondary coating being relatively thin and with low friction surface. 7. The method of finishing a metallic package-binder which comprises, giving the binder a primary surface of microscopic roughness with substantially uniformly distributed depressions and projections of about equal area, and covering the primary surface with a coating of thin smooth wax like material which is stable at ordinary temperatures.

8. The method of finishing a metallic pack- .age-binder which comprises, applying thereto a primary coating of a liquid enamel-like substance which possesses a high coefficient of friction when set, drying the primary coating to set the same upon the binder into a hard eggshellfinish surface therefor, and applying over the primary coating a thin wax like smooth secondary coating.

9. The method of finishing a metallic package-binder which comprises covering the binder with a primary coating of liquid enamel-like material which dries into a hard coat with microscopically rough high friction surface, drying the primary coating to set the same upon the binder, applying a secondary coating of wax like material over` the primary coating, and polishing the secondary coating.

l0. The method of finishing a flexible metallic package-binder which comprises applying a primary coating of a varnish-like material containing a finely ground pigment, drying the primary coating to harden the same, and applying over the primary coating a thin smooth secondary coating of wax like material.

HOWARD C. PORTER. 

